Handcuff-lock construction



March 31. 1925; 1,531,451

' E. E. NEAL HANDCUFF LOCK CONSTRUCTION Filed April 13, 922 I 2 She'ets-Sheet l INVENTOR MTORNEYS E. E. NEAL HANDCUFF LOCK CONSTRUCTION March 31, 192 s.

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 13. 1922 Patented Mar. 31, 1925.

UNITED STATES 1,531,451 PATENT OFFICE.

ELMER E. NEAL, OF LANGHORNE, PENNSYLVANIA, A'SSIGNO'R TO PEERLESS HAND- GUFF COMPANY, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACEUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSA- CHUSETTS.

HANDCUFF-LOCK CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed April 13, 1922. Serial No. 552,254.

To all 10710111. it may concern Be it known that I, ELMER E. NEAL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Langhornc. in the county of Bucks and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Handcuff-Lock Constructions, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improvement in O handcuif lock constructions and lock constructions of analogous character. Objects of the invention are to improve the lock construction for the purpose of lowering its manufacturing costand increasing its utility. The way in which these and other objects are attained will be shown in the detailed description.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a handcuif;

Fig. 2 is a top view indicating the kind of structure with which my lock construction is preferably combined;

Fig. 3 is a detail face view of the lock with the parts in double locked position;

Fig. 1 is a like view of the parts in completely unlocked position;

Fig. 5 is a view looking from the right in Fig. 4 but with covering or cheek plates in place against the lock frame;

Fig. 6 is a detail view; and

Fig. 7 is a view of one type of key useful for all lock manipulating purposes.

I have adapted my invention for practical use in a particular type of handcuff and the principles of this type are disclosed in the Carney Patent #1,017,955, granted Feb. 20, 1912. This type of handcuif has been developed as shown in theWesson Patents 1,161,562 granted Nov. 28, 1915, and 1,157,- 135 granted Oct. 19, 1915. Without in any way intending to limit my invention as claimed, I have chosen to show it in its preferred embodiment with direct reference to the prior art of which I am aware.

The handcuif is made with a solid rotat-- plates 5 or covers for a U-shaped lock frame or casing 6. The latter is of solid construcends of arms 2 and 3 by rivets 7, and so as to hold said ends apart as rivet 4 holds the V opposite ends. In this construction the frame 6 forms with the cheek plates 5 a sufliciently spacious recess for the lock mechanism. The arms 1, 2', and 3 are arranged as indicated to embrace the wrist. The portion of arm 1 remote from its pivotal connection between arms 2 and 3 is provided at its outeredge with suitable ratchet teeth 8 to cooperate with locking mechanism in the described recess. In addition, the arm 1 has on each side face adjacent the ratchet a rather deep groove 9 the shoulders of which are on arcs struck from the pivot center of arm 1. These grooves are open at the end of the arm 1 and also at points just to the rear of the ratchet teeth 8. The grooves 9 receive the four rigid posts 10 solidly mounted on arms 2 and 3 above and adjacent the point of cooperation between the lock mechanism and ratchet teeth 8.

The general operation of the hand coil as so far described is one by which arm 1 may continue to be rotated clockwise (Fig. 1) until a wrist or other thing to be grasped is embraced between the arms to prevent further rotation. At this point the lock mechanism within the described recess is designed to cooperate with the ratchet teeth 8 immediately and automatically to prevent a free ing of the wrist by counter-clockwise movement of arm 1 as most desirable at the instant the hand cuff is applied; by manually double locking the arm 1 with the key so it can move neither clockwise or counter-clockwise under any attempt to manipulate the lock; by manually unlocking the arm 1 with the key so it can freely swing open. This general operation is as far as described the same as in the prior art referred to particularly the Wesson patents. The improved lock construction and its improved features of manipulation will now be described with the plan of contrasting its improvement over the old construction. a

The new construction in its preferred form embodies a bell crank lever a, pivoted at (5, with one end formed on the top with ratchet teeth 0 and onthe bottom with supporting shoulder e while the other end of the lever a; is formed for engagement by the key 11 to swing the bell c ank lever coun tor-clockwise as shown. The top or long arm of the lever a; is made to substantially close the top end of the recess or pocket formed by the frame or casing 6 and the cheek plates 5 riveted to the frame 6 but is proportioned to have the necessary but limited swinging movement for the ratchet teeth a to engage the teeth 8 of arm 1 and when held in engagement to lock the arm 1. To control the bell crank I provlde a sliding bolt h proportioned for a limited sliding movement on the bottom'of the frame 6 and guided by the opposite cheek plates 5.

At one end of the bolt h is one wedge surface 9 and slightly spaced from it a second Wedge surface or V recess g. A spring pressed retaining plunger f is mounted in the short arm of crank a to engage either wedge surface 9 and hold the bolt h in its loekmg position (Fig. 3) or its retracted position (Fig. 4). In the latter position the spring plunger 7 has an addltlonal function because due to its position in contact with the bolt h and its mounting at one side of the pivot 75, it acts to press lever a so that its teeth 0 engage teeth 8 or arm 1. Although plunger 7 in the combination stated will perform its described purpose alone and constitutes one feature of my invention T have shown as a preferred form an additional plunger p located for engagement between the opposite end of bolt h and the outer end of the long arm on crank a. This plunger p consists of two cylinders one slidable in the other and pressed apart by a contained spring engaging the opposite cylinders on their closed ends. One end of the plunger is curved to engage a correspondingly curved bearing surface 9 adjacent the end of bolt h. The other plunger end is flat to engage a corresponding surface on the shoulder of an undercut surface of the crank arm a. The latter is cut away just enough to provide room for plunger 72 which is free except as held in its restricted movements by the crank a, the bolt 72, and the sides of the frame 6. The top of the bolt h is provided with a shoulder m to engage shoulder e, a curved portion a to permit movement of the key 11 the shoulder 0 for engagement by the key and a cut away portion between the shoulder 0 and the top of the bolt to permit the key to turn freely without engagement with the bolt after the crank arm a is turned to completely unlock the handcuif.

The parts are so constructed as described and arranged as more particularly shown in the drawings that the improved operation will be easily understood. In Figure 3 the plungers f and ;0 press bolt 71, to hold it in the position shown. The handcufi is double locked. In this position shoulder m engages near shoulder 6 so that there is a solid rigid bar against any movement whatever of crank arm a. Therefore, arm 1 with teeth 8 engaging teeth 0 is absolutely locked against movement in any direction. As a precaution against prying arm 1 upwardly the four rigid posts 10 in this position engage the shoulders of grooves 9. If the key is inserted (Fig. 1) and turned as indicated in Fig. 3 bolt It will be moved to the left against the pressure of the spring pressed plungers.

When bolt h is in the position of Fig. 4 the spring plungers still bearing on the bolt it hold it in this position against unintentional movement. ,As an additional important function both plungers as shown (but one might do) hold the crank arm a in the full line position but yieldingly hold it in this position instead of rigidly as the bolt does when it is in the position of Fig. 3. In the Fig. 4 position of the parts therefore, arm 1 is free to repeatedly turn in one direction clockwise as shown but not in the opposite or counter-clockwise direction due to the respectively reverse saw tooth arrangement of the teeth on arm 1 and crank arm a. Tn this position of the lock mechanism therefore arm 1 may turn until it engages a wrist but no longer because when it does engage the wrist the clockwise IIlO'V8-,'

ment is stopped. The wrist is thus automatically and instantly locked in the cuff and Without the use of the key. This is important because an oiiicer might find it most inconvenient to fuss with a key at the moment of arresting a prisoner disposed to resist. The primary or first locking operation is thus performed with all the convenience to the otficer as heretofore, for example by the use of the structure shown in the Wesson patents which has been in wide practical use for several years. The mechanism herein shown by which the said result is accomplished however is comparatively much less complicated and much more certail:i in its operation even though roughly use The operation of double locking the handcufl' is desirable to prevent the slight play of the arm 1 when primarily locked possible by the nature of the mechanism for the automatic or primary locking operation. The arm 1 in this position may be moved back and forth to an extent equal to the pitch of the teeth on the arm and latch due to the action of the engaged teeth against each other. This play is an invitation for attempts to manipulate the lock and is of real assistance to a clever manipulator.

The absolute safety is best secured by double locking the handcufl. While this has been accomplished before as in the Wesson patents it has been necessarily done by inserting the key and turning it as in llltl ordinary locks. .The difiiculty has been that the arresting oflicer does not always care to go to this trouble. In addition if the key and the mechanism, due to its delicate prior key although it may be conveniently and roughly used for double locking the handcuif. In' my construction the bolt *h is moved from the Figure 4: position-to the Figure 3 position by pressing the .projecting stem 1 of the key against the end of the plug mounted to slide freely but with a rather close fit in a hole bored for the purpose through frame 6 in line with the end of the bolt 71. remote from shoulder m. This plug has an enlarged head 7" to keep it in the desired position for'play between the end of the bolt and frame 6.

I have indicated the key end y for the purpose of ushin the bolt home by sliding plug 70 inwar 1y. It should be appreciated however, that the key is not at all necessary, as a match, pencil or any one of many suitable things most convenient and likely to be on the person may be as well used as the key. Once the bolt is shot home the hand cuif is double locked. On account of the simplicity of the operation and its convenience even though the key is lost the officer is most likely to double lock his prisoner. At any event, he will have no excuse for not doing so as he has had heretofore. The key is not necessary for the oflicer, but may be left at the station as it is only needed for unlocking.

As an additional feature of my construction it will be noted that it accomplishes important advantages of the invention in the Wesson and Pomeroy Patent No.1,157,135 but in a different Way. The handculf can be all assembled and riveted as by rivets a and 7 (Fig. 1) and finished except for the insertion of the lock mechanism in the frame. To insert this the plug k is first inserted in its hole from within the recess, the bolt 7:. is dropped to the bottom of the frame, the plunger p is inserted, the bell crank a with plunger f within its recess is placed in position, and the bolt h slid to the position of Figure 3. In this position the bell crank a is supported at three points on the bottom, one of them serving as a rigid support. The top surface of the bell crank is in line with the top surface t of the frame 6. These two surfaces may be conveniently held in line by a piece of metal as a tem porary second rigid" top support. In this position of the parts the pivot b is inserted through the cheek plates as a rivet (see Fig. 1) to serve as a single finalmeans for holding the lock mechanism in place as well as a pivot for the bell crank a. The latter serves to close the upper end of the frame or casing opening and the whole arrangement avoids the use of the lock frame or block of said prior patents. I

The upper ri ht hand end of the bell crank a (Fig. 5 is undercut as at z and sufiiciently far enough below the top of frame 6 that if a thin steel piece is inserted between arm land the frame 6 it can not get a bearing on the crank a to turn it or hold its long end down. The last tooth adjacent the undercut may be cut of as at m sufliciently to avoid engagement on top of it by a piece inserted as stated. Unless cut off the rear of this tooth' would perhaps serve as a purchase point for a picking tool. Theadvantage of the new} construction at this point will be appreciated by a comparison of it with the corresponding point in said prior patents.

Th lock construction described can of, course be used in varying relationships without departing from the principles of theinvention. The liandcufi shown is used generally in pairs as illustrated in the prior art but maybe used singly and the lock mechanism may be made up as shown or with equivalent elements of the invention which I now claim.

What I claim is 1. A lock constructiom of the character described, comprising in combination, a movable member to be looked, a spring pressed latch automatically operable to permit movement of said memberin one direction, but not in theopposite direction past the latch, means manually operable to hold the latch to lock said member against any movement and a lock casing to guard said and additional means to manually operatefrom witllout the casing the parts within the casing for a locking operation only.

2. In a handcuff of the kind described, a lock construction comprising a casing, a bolt slidably supported on the bottom of the casing, a spring pressed bell crank latch mounted in the casing, the casing serving as the guide and support for the movements of the latch and bolt, said bolt being constructed to engage the latch and hold it rigidly against any unlocking force.

3. In a handcuff of the kind described, a lock construction comprising a casing, a bolt slidably supported onthe bottom of the casing, a latch pivoted within the casing above the bolt and having a depending portion on its outer end adapted for engage-- ment by the bolt to hold it in position.

4. In a handcuif of the kind described, a lock construction comprising a casing, a

bolt slidable on the bottom of the casing, a

with a spring ressed plunger between it and the bolt and a latch arm with a depending portion at its outer end forengagemcnt by the bolt. i

5. In 'a handcufi of the kind described, a lock construction comprising a casing, va bolt slidable on the bottom of the casing, a bell crank latch pivoted Within the casing above the bolt and provided with a depending arm for manipulation by a key and a latch arm having a depending portion for engagement by the bolt, a spring pressed lunger mounted to act between the outer end of the latch arm and bolt.

6. In a handcuif of the kind described, a lock construction comprising a casing, a bolt slidable on the bottom of the casing, a

bell crank lateh piv0ted Within the casing on the bolt for engagement by a key to move it out of engagement with the outer end of the latch.

7 In a handcufi of the kind described, a lock construction including a casing, a bolt within the casing, said casing being provided with a hole in line with one end and aortion on said bolt adapted to be engaged ya key to move it in the opposite direction.

8. A handcufi' comprising in combination two parallel spaced arms between which at one pair of ends is pivoted a locking arm adapted to pass between said arms and at the other ends of which are formed side plates for a lock casing, a U frame mounted between said side plates to complete the easing, a bolt at the bottom of said casing, a bell crank latch pivoted Within the casing at one upper corner thereof and having a latch arm substantially filling the otherwise open end of the casing with a depending portion for engagement by said bolt, spring pressure means for holding the latch in-position, all constructed and arranged for the locking arm to have a freedom of circular movement in one direction only past the latch when in positionand to be locked to the latch when the bolt is in engagement with its depending portion.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

ELMIER E. NEAL. 

